UNLUCKY Louie, who has a houseful of kids, says that the purpose of a child’s middle name is so she’ll know when she’s really in trouble.
You may think it’s easier to communicate with your partner than with your kids, but in either situation being too forceful can be counterproductive. Against today’s 3NT, the defense began with four heart tricks. South threw a club from his hand and a diamond from dummy – and West signaled emphatically with the nine of clubs.
East then led a club, but declarer believed West’s signal (and thought it unlikely that East would lead from the king when he could see the queen in dummy). So South took the ace of clubs and cashed four spades, discarding his last two clubs. On the last spade, West was in trouble: He couldn’t keep the king of clubs and all four diamonds, and South made his game.
East could beat 3NT by shifting to a club at Trick Three. South’s squeeze for nine tricks won’t work unless he has lost four tricks to “rectify the count.” The worst error, however, was West’s signal in clubs, which helped South play the hand. If West discards a low club, East will exit with a diamond, and South will probably adopt the simple play of testing the diamonds, then running the spades, then taking the club finesse at the end.
By the way, if you don’t like South’s second bid, I agree; I’d have bid two diamonds. This “reverse” would suggest longer clubs than diamonds as well as extra strength, but I like it better than 2NT with three low hearts.